Spiritual Direction

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

"Spiritual direction is the act of paying attention to God, calling attention to God, being attentive to God in a person or circumstances or situation.... It notices the Invisibilities in and beneath and around the Visibilities. It listens for the Silences between the spoken Sounds." - EUGENE PETERSON

What is spiritual direction?

The Christian life often entails times of spiritual uncertainty—situations in which we are unsure of God’s will, confused about what God is doing in our circumstances, or generally dry in our relationship with God. Spiritual direction is a safe place to explore your questions and concerns about your life with God.

What is a spiritual director?

A Christian spiritual director is a trained listener who will accompany you as you share about your spiritual journey, helping you to notice God’s presence and activity along the way, as well as your personal reactions and responses. Hospitable, confidential, and grounded in biblical truth, spiritual direction is a ministry that helps you grow in prayer and live into your calling as a follower of Christ.

How can spiritual direction benefit me?

Whether you seek a spiritual director during a specific season of your life or engage with one as part of your regular spiritual practices, spiritual direction is beneficial in many ways. It can connect you in relationship with:

Someone with a perspective outside of your normal circles.

Someone who reminds you of the basics—God’s love, care and constancy through all of life’s circumstances.

Someone to stay awake with you on the road when you are spiritually weary.

Someone who keeps the faith when yours feels weak.

Someone to lift you before God while you struggle with issues that aren’t solved quickly or easily.

Someone to celebrate God’s work of transformation with you and for you.

Someone who values and loves you in Christ and enjoys giving you that gift in Jesus name.

How is spiritual direction different from other care ministries?

Spiritual direction is not meant to replace other forms of helping ministries such as biblical, pastoral, or psychological counseling. Spiritual direction differs from counseling ministries primarily in its focus: the intention in spiritual direction is not to help solve a problem, but rather to look for God’s activity within any problems and within the rest of the person’s life experience. This perspective invites you into deeper relationship with God in the midst of whatever you are experiencing. Spiritual direction is designed to compliment rather than compete with these other vital ministries within the Body of Christ.

If I make a direction appointment, what can I expect?

It starts with a conversation — click the button below to make a phone appointment.

You can meet with a spiritual director either in person, over the phone or via video conferencing.

A session usually lasts for about an hour and takes place about once a month.

Compensation varies from person to person in order for it to be available to all who seek it. A range of $25-$60 is requested per one hour session; some need to give less, others choose to give more. Payment is due in advance or at the session; payments may be made online or by check payable to: Holding Space Ministries.

Every meeting is confidential, and the spiritual director will guide the dialogue through attentive listening and thoughtful questions.

"Meeting with a directee is an honor, a privilege of co-listening for the movement of God in his or her life and paying attention, noticing. I treasure praying with every directee, and keeping a covenant of prayer with them until we meet again. Some of the questions addressed by direction are “What is God doing in me?” and “What is God showing me?” Truly, the director is the Holy Spirit and I am a companion and co-discerner. I also see the spiritual direction relationship as one of encouraging the directee to practice self-care and soul-care, learning to live counter-culturally in our chatter-infested and hyperactive culture." - JULIE COMMANDER